Chick won't come out.

[TheBigWRanch]

The chick started hatching 24 hours ago, and now it still hasn't made much progress. The humidity has never been great, so I added more water, and a humidifier to the room at about 1 PM yesterday, and then last night at 1 AM I added about 6 wet papers towels to the incubator. At that time the broken part was about the size off my pinky with just a small opening where it's beak was. This morning I checked at 11 AM and nothing had changed. So I took it out really quick to see if it was still alive. I flicked off the broken pieces of shell, and now the hole opening is the same size as my pinky. It is still alive, and it started moving more once I took off the broken pieces, but I don't know what else to do, it seems to be pretty wet, and my hygrometer says it's at 55%. I am afraid if I try to add water to the shell, I might drown the baby. Any ideas, is this normal?

 

[jimnjay]

At this point the membrane may have gotten so dry it is stuck to the chick. More water will usually not help after this long in my opinion. I have had to peel the shell off carefully. Try not to get the membrane with it just the shell. At least enough to allow the chick some wiggle room. If no more progress in a couple of hours. Try peeling the membrane VERY slowly. If it starts to bleed stop and then try again later. The dry membrane is much like shrink wrap when the egg drys out. If it is not to exhusted they can usually free themselves from the membrane when it is stuck like that. If they can't turn inside the shell they will not be able to break free. Just go slow and be very careful. I have had to do this many times especially in the winter as its dryer. I have only lost one so far. All chicks grew up to be healthy and hearty chickens. They should rebound in a day if all is ok except the dry hatch.

Good Luck

 

[TheBigWRanch]

OK I did it. Everything went fine until I got to the pointed top of the egg, then I ripped the membrane and it started bleeding! I'm afraid it might die. The chick was peeping the whole time, and moving around, trying to make more room for it's head. Hopfully it will have the strength to get out. I have to leave for work in an hour. Thanks for your help.

 

[laura877]

I just had a chick that pipped a hole and I could see that the skin of th egg was dry. It took 2 days for it to come out. I just left it alone and kept pouring hot water into the holes on the Little Giant bator (making sure not to pour it on any eggs or chicks). Sometimes I hae taken an eye dropper with warm water and just put a drop in the pipped hole. Only thing with this is to make sure that the cick is in an upright position so that I don't get water into its lungs.